Search Results (751)

Fungal cellulases are key biocatalysts for lignocellulosic biomass valorization and the development of sustainable biorefineries. This review examines recent advances in the production of endoglucanase (EGL), exoglucanase (EXG), and β-glucosidase (BGL) by fungi of the genera Trichoderma, Aspergillus, and Penicillium under solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF). Emphasis is placed on fermentation strategies, substrate selection, process optimization, and emerging chemometric and artificial intelligence-based approaches. The literature reveals a predominance of SSF systems, especially when agri-food residues such as wheat bran, sugarcane bagasse, rice-derived residues, fruit-processing wastes, and cocoa by-products are employed as low-cost substrates. Among the evaluated genera, Aspergillus was among the most frequently investigated genera and exhibited broad substrate versatility, whereas Trichoderma reesei remains the principal industrial production host for cellulase-rich enzyme preparations used mainly in the saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass for cellulosic ethanol and other biorefinery applications. In contrast, Penicillium stands out as an important source of BGL, complementing cellulase systems derived from other fungi. Temperature, pH, moisture content, and fermentation time were consistently identified as the main factors affecting cellulase biosynthesis, with optimal production generally occurring under mildly acidic conditions and mesophilic temperatures. CCD and BBD were the predominant optimization strategies, while artificial neural network-based models are emerging as promising alternatives. The complementary characteristics of these fungi genera support their application in integrated biomass conversion and future lignocellulosic biorefineries. Full article

Livestock farming is blamed for its significant carbon footprint (CF), contributing to environmental pollution and climate change. Among other approaches, this has highlighted the need to find alternative feeding systems for cattle production that are potentially able to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this context, the objective of the present study was to compare the CF of producing cattle fed a Conventional diet versus cattle fed a diet that included vegetable by-products (VBP diet) sourced from the local agri-food industry. In this study, twenty-four entire male young bulls were reared in Navarra, Spain. Twelve calves were finished on the VBP diet that also included fodder and grain, and the remaining animals were finished with a local Conventional diet based on concentrate and straw. Results showed a larger CF of meat from animals fed the Conventional diet in comparison with the VBP-fed ones, that is, 117.84 kg versus 42.01 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of meat, respectively. This research demonstrates that using by-products from the local agri-food industry for feeding cattle has an important beneficial effect on the environment. It is not only a circular economy solution that recovers and recycles by-products instead of treating them as waste, but can also notably reduce the GHG associated with livestock production. This study marks the beginning of ongoing research into the effect of introducing regional vegetable by-products in the diet of livestock and their corresponding impacts on productivity and the environment, particularly in terms of GHG emissions per kilogram of feed consumed. Full article

Agri-food by-products and residues are increasingly being studied as raw materials for three-dimensional (3D) printing, especially to convert secondary streams into useful, more sustainable products. This review discusses recent advances in the use of these materials, focusing on how their origins, compositions, pretreatments, processing behaviors, and final applications are interconnected. Plant-, animal-, industrial-, and post-consumer-derived residues are considered, particularly when they provide fibers, proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, bioactive compounds, or biopolymers with technological value. The review also examines the main printing approaches used in this field, including extrusion-based printing, inkjet printing, sintering, and direct ink writing. Particular attention is given to factors that determine successful printing, including rheological behavior, viscosity, particle size, moisture content, structural stability after deposition, interlayer adhesion, and shape fidelity. Current applications range from functional foods and biodegradable or active packaging to biomaterials, controlled-release systems, biocomposites, construction materials, energy-related devices, textiles, and agricultural products. Although the reviewed studies show clear potential, most developments still face important barriers, including raw material variability, safety requirements, sensory acceptance, mechanical performance, scale-up, and regulatory uncertainty. Future progress will depend on moving beyond printable prototypes toward reproducible formulations, real-use validation, and clearer comparison criteria, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12 and the transition toward higher-value circular production chains. Full article

The transition towards a circular economy of agri-food wastes requires innovative strategies for transforming them into value-added products. This study evaluates the environmental and economic sustainability of a laboratory-scale process that converts 100 g of pomegranate waste, experimentally processed and defined as functional unit (FU), into a cosmetic emulsion. Primary data were collected from laboratory activities carried out in an Italian university, including material and reagent consumption, equipment operating times and energy use. A cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment was performed in SimaPro according to ISO 14040 and 14044 using the Environmental Footprint 3.1 method, while Life Cycle Costing was developed in Microsoft Excel using the same system boundaries. The process valorized the three main pomegranate fractions (arils, mesocarp and exocarp) to obtain a cosmetic emulsion. The exocarp treatment was identified as the main impactful phase. The overall climate change impact reached 328 g CO₂ eq/FU, while fossil resource use amounted to 5.3 MJ/FU. The total production cost was estimated at 189 €/FU, mainly due to labor, reagents, enzymes and equipment costs. Although laboratory-scale operation results in relatively high impacts and costs, the study identifies the main hotspots and provides a baseline for future process optimization and industrial scale-up. Full article

Ensuring the sustainability of agriculture-related industries requires not only expanding value added but also maintaining stable value creation and adaptive capacity under changing economic conditions. This study examines the economic and organizational sustainability of China’s agriculture-related industries within global value chains. Using the 2026 release of the OECD Analytical Activities of Multinational Enterprises database and ownership-split inter-country input–output tables for 2011–2023, we construct an ownership-disaggregated value-added accounting framework covering the production, processing, and circulation stages and apply structural decomposition analysis to identify the sources of value-added change and potential weak links. The results show that domestic demand is the principal source of value creation for both domestic-owned and foreign-owned enterprises and became increasingly important over the study period. Final-goods-related value added remains larger than intermediate-goods-related value added, although the latter grows more rapidly, indicating deeper participation in cross-border production networks. Structural exposure varies across stages and periods. Production is strongly supported by domestic demand but exhibits pronounced internal offsetting in some periods; processing becomes a major adjustment node during 2019–2020, while circulation records the clearest contraction in the same period before returning to a more balanced growth structure during 2020–2023. Foreign-owned enterprises, particularly in processing, become increasingly embedded in China’s domestic market and local production structure. Risk exposure is interpreted as structural sensitivity rather than a direct measure of risk probability or expected loss. The findings highlight the importance of domestic demand, diversified input and market linkages, greater stability and adaptability in processing and circulation, and well-governed cross-ownership relationships for sustainable value-chain development. Full article

This study examines cross-industry convergence in the bio-industry from a multilayer network perspective. Based on quarterly industry-level indicators for five industrial layers, namely the bio-industry, digital technology, high-end equipment, new materials, and agri-food, from 2010Q2 to 2026Q1, this study constructs a directed multilayer network using lagged cross-correlations among stationarized indicator series. Each industry is represented as a network layer, and significant lagged relationships among industry-level indicators are defined as directed interlayer edges. Static interlayer density, dynamic cross-layer spillover density, overlap index, and participation coefficient are further measured to characterize the structural features, dynamic evolution, and dimensional distribution of cross-industry convergence in the bio-industry. The results show that the bio-industry is not an isolated sector, but is deeply embedded in a multilayer industrial system. The static network results reveal the strongest bidirectional connections between the bio-industry and digital technology and between the bio-industry and new materials, with high-end equipment serving as an important supporting layer. The dynamic results show that, after 2023, bidirectional spillovers between the bio-industry and digital technology, new materials, and high-end equipment strengthened markedly. The overlap index and participation coefficient further indicate that cross-industry convergence is mainly concentrated in efficiency, profitability, and per capita output dimensions, rather than merely reflecting scale expansion. Robustness checks using FDR correction and an alternative rolling-window length show that the main conclusions remain consistent. This study develops a multilayer network framework for measuring bio-industry convergence and reveals that bio-industry development is increasingly shaped by dynamic, bidirectional, and cross-layer interactions among data, materials, equipment, and application systems. Full article

Malaysia’s upstream poultry supply chain, comprising broiler farms, hatcheries, and breeder operations, faces persistent barriers to circular economy (CE) adoption despite growing national policy support. Existing literature has focused predominantly on quantitative assessments of CE performance, leaving a critical gap in contextual, institutional-level understanding of why CE practices remain selectively and unevenly implemented. This paper reports findings from an exploratory qualitative study involving nine semi-structured in-depth interviews with informants drawn primarily from institutional and regulatory stakeholder categories: regulatory agencies (Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia, DVS), industry associations (Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia, FLFAM), marketing and distribution agencies (Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority, FAMA), research institutions (Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, MARDI), one private sector operator, and academic informants. Thematic analysis reveals five interconnected themes that collectively explain CE implementation gaps as seen from this institutional vantage point: (1) fragmented internal coordination as the primary operational barrier, (2) policy-practice misalignment between regulatory intent and operational realities, (3) the awareness-to-action deficit in CE conceptualisation, (4) differentiated capability constraints across enterprise scales (reported mainly through an industry-association intermediary rather than smallholders directly), and (5) the digital-circular complementarity gap raised by a minority of informants (4 of 9). The study makes three contributions: it generates an institutional-level, qualitative account of CE barriers and enablers for Malaysia’s upstream poultry sector from an institutional perspective; it introduces the concept of capability-sensitive CE governance, situated relative to related constructs such as the dynamic capabilities view, absorptive capacity, and the Technology–Organisation–Environment (TOE) framework, as a novel theoretical construct grounded in empirical evidence; and it proposes a preliminary Circular Economy Implementation Readiness Model (CEIRM), offered as a basis for future validation rather than a tested framework, that outlines a staged, practical pathway for CE adoption at the enterprise level. Findings have exploratory implications for policymakers, agri-food managers, and researchers engaged in circular transitions in developing-economy food systems. Full article

This study proposes a conceptual model of smart innovation to examine internationalization processes in traditional, territorially embedded industries, with a focal empirical focus on Sogrape, Portugal’s leading wine company, situated within the Vinho Verde wine sector. While digital transformation is increasingly recognized as a driver of competitiveness, its role in shaping internationalization strategies within regional agri-food systems remains insufficiently theorized. To address this gap, the study adopts a modified Delphi-based qualitative approach involving a panel of experts composed mainly of Sogrape managers and complemented by independent producers from the Vinho Verde wine sector. Through two iterative rounds of structured expert inquiry, the research identifies key mechanisms linking digital transformation, organizational capabilities, territorial identity, and international market expansion. The findings are synthesized into an integrative conceptual model that articulates how smart innovation, understood as the strategic alignment of digital capabilities, organizational processes, and territorial assets, may support internationalization processes in territorially embedded settings. The model emphasizes the role of digital platforms, data-driven decision-making, and narrative-driven place positioning in translating territorial identity into competitive value in global markets. Importantly, the study does not claim to provide representative evidence of the Vinho Verde wine sector as a whole. Rather, it develops a focal-case-based analytical architecture, grounded primarily in Sogrape’s organizational context and qualified by complementary insights from independent producers. The study contributes to the literature by bridging digital transformation, internationalization, and territorial value creation within a unified conceptual framework. From a managerial perspective, it offers analytically grounded insights that may inform strategic reflection in wine firms and other territorially embedded agri-food sectors, subject to contextual adaptation and further empirical validation. Full article

Agri-food processing generates large quantities of residues that are increasingly recognized as sustainable sources of bioactive ingredients for high-value applications. This narrative review examines agri-food by-products as sources of antioxidant compounds and provides an integrated mechanistic perspective on their applications in skin, oral, and hair care. By highlighting the shared antioxidant mechanisms of action underlying these applications, the review offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the cosmeceutical potential of agri-food-derived bioactive compounds. Peer-reviewed studies published mainly between 2015 and 2026 were considered, focusing on the chemical composition of by-products, green recovery strategies, biological mechanisms, and evidence from in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo, and clinical studies. Fruit and vegetable peels, seeds, skins, pomaces, and other agro-industrial residues contain polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, carotenoids, vitamins, lipids, peptides, and polysaccharides with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, photoprotective, anti-aging, moisturizing, and pigmentation-modulating properties. These compounds can reduce oxidative stress, support endogenous antioxidant defences, modulate redox-sensitive signaling pathways, attenuate inflammation, preserve extracellular matrix integrity, and improve skin barrier-related outcomes. Green extraction technologies, including ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, and natural deep eutectic solvents, enhance their sustainable recovery. Overall, agri-food by-products represent promising resources for circular cosmeceutical innovation, although extract standardization, safety, stability, skin bioavailability, formulation performance, and controlled clinical validation remain essential for translation. Full article

The agri-food sector generates significant quantities of by-products and waste biomass, representing both an environmental challenge and an opportunity for resource recovery within a circular bioeconomy. This study developed a decision-support framework for the sustainable valorization of major residues from the Italian agri-food sector. Following a Material Flow Analysis (MFA) of multiple Italian agri-food supply chains, tomato and grape supply chains were selected as representative case studies because they generated the largest quantities of valorizable by-products among the agri-food sectors evaluated, namely tomato pomace and grape marc. MFA based on FAOSTAT and PRODCOM data (2019–2023) was combined with a literature review to assess biomass availability and physicochemical characteristics. The analysis identified tomato pomace and grape marc as the predominant residues. Tomato pomace showed high moisture content (63.34%), balanced organic composition, and a favorable C/N ratio, supporting its suitability for anaerobic digestion with an average biomethane potential (BMP) of 0.143 m³ CH₄/kg TVS. Conversely, grape marc exhibited a carbon-rich lignocellulosic structure, with a carbon content of 47.67%, C/N ratio of 24.73, and BMP of 0.195 m³ CH₄/kg TVS, favoring thermochemical conversion pathways, particularly pyrolysis. The framework also highlights the importance of cascading strategies, prioritizing the recovery of high-value compounds, and pretreatment approaches to improve biomass conversion efficiency. Overall, this approach supports optimized resource recovery and sustainable agri-food waste management. Full article

The food industry is interested in utilizing active compounds from agri-food waste to produce healthy products and promote sustainability and resource efficiency. This study aimed to conduct a phytochemical analysis of grape pomace derived from Vitis vinifera wine grape varieties Saperavi and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel of the Nar-Shirin variety, which are widely processed in South Kazakhstan. The extraction processes were simple and employed water and ethanol, two food-grade solvents widely used in green extraction due to their low toxicity and compatibility with food applications.Among the extraction methods tested, aqueous–alcoholic extraction demonstrated the highest efficiency in recovering total phenolic content (TPC), yielding 225.5 ± 1.46 mg GAE/g extract from pomegranate peel, 153.9 ± 1.25 mg GAE/g extract from Cabernet Sauvignon pomace, and 98.6 ± 0.83 mg GAE/g extract from Saperavi pomace. Phenolic profiling of the aqueous–alcoholic extract was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF MS/MS). The total ion chromatograms revealed the presence of predominant phenolic compounds in all analyzed samples. Key identified constituents in grape pomace included kaempferol 3-O-β-D-xylofuranoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-α-L-arabinoside, genistin, and megastigmane glycoside. In pomegranate peel, compounds such as myricetin, 5-(2Z,8Z)-pentadecadien-1-yl-1,3-benzenediol were identified for the first time. These findings highlight the rich phenolic composition of grape pomace and pomegranate peel’s extracts and support their potential as valuable sources of bioactive compounds for food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Full article

Agri-food byproducts are increasingly investigated as food-tech material resources, but compositional richness alone does not establish ingredient suitability. This critical narrative review evaluates plant-derived and processing residues across four representative material groups: fiber- and polysaccharide-rich powders and fractions, protein- and starch-rich materials, bioprocessed ingredients, and formulation-supporting composites. We examine how source identity, stabilization, drying, milling, fermentation, enzymatic modification, fractionation, and formulation influence hydration, interfacial behavior, gelation, rheology, texture, sensory compatibility, storage stability, and preservation-supporting performance. Evidence is interpreted across linked feedstock–processing–functionality–application–readiness gates, with separate consideration of safety, regulatory positioning, batch specifications, scale-up, techno-economic feasibility, life cycle assessment, and circularity boundaries. The practical output is a five-gate decision support and claim calibration framework that distinguishes four proposed evidence levels: Candidate, Functionality-supported, Formulation-validated, and Industry-ready potential. As a proposed non-numerical synthesis, the framework supports decision-making and claim calibration rather than ranking, certification, or regulatory approval; it identifies the evidence required before matrix-specific functional, safety, sustainability, or industry relevance claims are made. Full article

Improving the quality of agriculture-related market entry is central to rural industrial upgrading, yet existing studies mainly measure entry quantity. The primary objective of this study is to assess whether the county-level business environment is associated with the structural quality of new agriculture-related entrants. Specifically, the study asks three questions: whether the association is positive; whether financial services, market connectivity, and human capital supply are consistent transmission channels; and whether the association varies with agricultural foundations, initial factor market conditions, and access to urban spillovers. Using Chinese business registration records and county-level socioeconomic data for 2010–2023, we construct a county–year panel and measure entry quality through capital quality, organizational quality, and value chain extension. Two-way fixed effects, double machine learning, fractional response models, robustness tests, and a supplementary instrumental variable diagnostic are applied. The preferred fixed effects estimate indicates that a 0.1 increase in the business environment index is associated with a 4.16 percentage point increase in the high-quality entry ratio; a one-standard-deviation increase corresponds to approximately 3.77 percentage points. The association remains positive under nonlinear and bounded-outcome specifications. Channel tests are consistent with financial, market connectivity, and human capital pathways, and the association is stronger in central and western counties, non-municipal districts, counties with stronger agricultural foundations, and counties with weaker initial financial and market conditions. Because the estimate becomes statistically insignificant after prefecture-by-year fixed effects are included, the findings are interpreted as robust conditional associations rather than definitive county-level causal effects. Full article

Food waste has emerged as one of the most pressing global sustainability challenges because of its environmental, economic, and social implications. Nearly one-third of the food produced worldwide is lost or wasted each year, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, depletion of natural resources, and increasing food insecurity. Advances in circular bioeconomy concepts and sustainable processing technologies have transformed food waste from an environmental liability into a valuable feedstock for producing biofuels, bioplastics, bioactive compounds, functional ingredients, prebiotics, and other high-value products. This review critically examines current strategies for converting food waste into value-added products, including green extraction technologies and biochemical, thermochemical, enzymatic, and microbial approaches. Attention is given to major agri-food by-products, such as fruit pomace, vegetable residues, oilseed meals, dairy by-products, and agro-industrial wastes. Emerging developments involving biorefinery concepts, artificial intelligence, digital biorefineries, synthetic biology, and carbon-neutral production systems are also discussed. Furthermore, the review highlights recent applications of waste-derived fibers, antioxidants, and polyphenols in functional foods, especially bakery products. Finally, key challenges related to feedstock heterogeneity, process scalability, regulatory frameworks, economic feasibility, and sustainability assessment are critically analyzed together with future research directions supporting the transition toward resilient circular bioeconomy systems. Full article

China’s growing demand for fruit has accelerated the expansion of China-centered agrifood production networks across Southeast Asia. This study examines the integration of Cambodia’s banana export industry into this network from a global production network perspective. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Cambodia between 2023 and 2025, including participant observation, interviews, and worker surveys, the study analyzes lead firms, governance arrangements, labor organization, and value distribution. Chinese agribusiness firms serve as lead firms. Governance is facilitated by economic land concessions, bilateral phytosanitary agreements, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Cambodia Banana Industry Association Federation. The network is characterized by low-wage and highly mobile labor, reflecting tensions between plantation management and workers’ livelihood strategies. Although Cambodia has been integrated into the network as an export-oriented production base, value enhancement has not necessarily translated into greater value capture and remains concentrated in downstream distribution and retail. This study argues that China-centered agrifood production networks reproduce the unequal value distribution observed in established banana commodity chains. Although based on a qualitative single-case study in Cambodia, the findings provide empirical insights into the governance and developmental implications of China-centered agrifood production networks and offer a foundation for future comparative research. Full article